SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 15, 2014) - In search of its first title since returning to the NE-10 a year ago, the LIU Post football team captured the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Saturday with a 58-25 rout of American International at Ronald J. Abdow Field.

Scoreless through one quarter of play, the green and gold capitalized on a Ryan Renfroe (Oakdale, N.Y.) interception in AIC (8-3) territory. Five plays following the pick, red-shirt senior quarterback Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho) completed a screen pass to David White (Bronx, N.Y.), who took the ball 20 yards into the end zone for the contest's opening score.

The Yellow Jackets then went on a tear, reeling off 16 unanswered points, to grab a nine-point edge (16-7) late in the second quarter. However, the Pioneers (8-3) managed to score three key points before halftime. Starting at their own 31-yard line, the visitors drove down to the AIC 6. With time winding down, senior kicker Karsten Viste (Randaberg, Norway) drilled a 22-yard field goal to close the gap to 16-10 at the break.

The latter half belonged to LIU Post, as it outscored the opposition by an overwhelming 48-9 count. After forcing a three-and-out by AIC, the green and gold put up seven points on their first series of the third quarter to re-gain the lead. Laurino dialed his own number on six of the 14 plays in the drive, capped off by a two-yard keeper for the touchdown. The possession started with a 25-yard hook-up from Laurino to Shane Hubbard (St. Albans, N.Y.).

Though the Yellow Jackets responded with a touchdown of their own to go back in front (23-17), the Pioneers would not be denied of hoisting the championship trophy.

LIU Post went on to score touchdowns on its next three possessions to grab a commanding 37-25 advantage. The run was bookended by 25- and five-yard touchdown passes to Kamron Palmer (Brooklyn, N.Y.). A 28-yard strike from Laurino to Hubbard in the end zone, on a third-and-10, sandwiched those two scoring drives.

Leading by two possessions, the visitors did not take their foot off the gas. On the Pioneers' first snap of the fourth quarter, Laurino found Palmer for a third time for six, this time, on a 72-yard deep ball. That made it a 44-25 game.

It didn't take long for LIU Post to get the ball back and score again. A surprise onside kick on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by the Pioneers at the AIC 21-yard line. Three plays into that series, red-shirt sophomore running back Mike Williams (Westbury, N.Y.) ran the ball in from 10 yards out to seal the victory.

Laurino continued his stellar finish to a collegiate career. He completed 30-of-57 passes for a season-high 413 yards and five touchdowns. He scampered for 61 yards and a score as well. White (55 yards rushing) and Williams (44 yards rushing) also picked up touchdowns on the ground. In the receiving department, Hubbard made 10 catches for a career-high 172 yards and a TD, while Palmer hauled in five balls for 118 yards and three scores. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Brunetti led the green and gold with 10 tackles (nine solo). Sophomore defensive back Jared Chester (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) (one forced fumble) and freshman defensive back Richard Wright (Brooklyn, N.Y.) (two pass break-ups) had nine tackles apiece. Junior defensive back Jhaleel Oswald (Rosedale, N.Y.) totaled eight tackles, a forced fumble and a pass break-up.

Head Coach Bryan Collins and his LIU Post squad now await word on a potential bid to the NCAA Division II Championship. The selection show will be aired Sunday (Nov. 16) at 5 p.m. on NCAA.com.